CHP Says They Were Properly Staffed For Sunday's Skinhead Rally

Police tape and protest signs at the state Capitol on Sunday, June 26, 2016, after violent clashes broke out between demonstrators and counter-protestors during a right-wing extremist rally.

Andrew Nixon / Capital Public Radio

The California Highway Patrol says it was properly staffed to provide security for a white separatist event at the State Capitol Sunday.

A group of 400 anti-fascists had taken up positions around the Capitol before the event and attacked the group of 30 separatists as they approached the Capitol.

George Granada is the public information officer with the CHP.

"Whether or not we expected this kind of an issue to take place, we were prepared with Sac PD to have additional officers here. Usually on a Sunday, it's minimal manning here. The Capitol is only open on the north side, so, locking it down didn't take much because the rest of the building was closed," says Granada.

The Sacramento Police Department says 100 officers were working the area around the Capitol at the time of the attack.

Granada says nothing like this has happened in at least the last three years. He says a CHP sergeant addressed the group of anti-fascists to remind them the white separatists had a permit for the event on the Capitol grounds and to ask that they keep their counter protest peaceful.

10 people were injured. The investigation into the incident continues.

Bob reports on all things northern California and Nevada. His coverage of police technology, local athletes, and the environment has won a regional Associated Press and several Edward R. Murrow awards. Read Full Bio